Method of playing a binary card game

ABSTRACT

A binary game apparatus consisting of a plurality of playing pieces each of which are identical and each of which has first and second distinguishing characters which are respectively assigned the numbers 0 and one comprising the numbers in the binary system having base 2. The playing pieces may be cards, and each card may have one white face representing the number 0 and an opposite black face representing the number 1. When such cards are arranged adjacent, those displaying upward the character representing the number 1 have the following values; the one farthest to the right has the value 1, the next to the left the value 2, the next to the left the value 4, the next to the left the value 8, and continuing if desired with each such card representing the binary number one placed next to the left doubling in value. The cards or other playing pieces displaying upward the character representing the number 0 have the value of 0 regardless of their position. The total value of a row of adjacent playing pieces is determined by adding together the values so represented by the displayed characters of each piece, whereby a variety of number games may be played.

United States Patent Whippo [451 May 16, 1972 METHOD OF PLAYING A BINARYCARD GAME Walt Whippo, 110 Sunset Drive, Cocoa Beach, Fla. 32931 [22]Filed: Oct. 6, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 78,464

[72] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 711,959 10/1902 Graham..273/131AB 1,557,824 10/1925 Fritz ..273/l52.2

3,104,106 9/1963 Kenney et al. ..273/l52.l UX

155,752 10/1874 Richardson ..273/152.1

2,881,537 4/1959 Dreman ..273/l52.2 UX

2,574,328 11/1951 Hartley ..273/152.2

Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Attorney-Ernest S. Kettelson ABSTRACT Abinary game apparatus consisting of a plurality of playing pieces eachof which are identical and each of which has first and seconddistinguishing characters which are respectively assigned the numbers 0and one comprising the numbers in the binary system having base 2. Theplaying pieces may be cards, and each card may have one white facerepresenting the number 0 and an opposite black face representing thenumber 1. When such cards are arranged adjacent, those displaying upwardthe character representing the number 1 have the following values; theone farthest to the right has the value 1, the next to the left thevalue 2, the next to the left the value 4, the next to the left thevalue 8, and continuing if desired with each such card representing thebinary number one placed next to the left doubling in value. The cardsor other playing pieces displaying upward the character representing thenumber 0 have the value of 0 regardless of their position. The totalvalue of a row of adjacent playing pieces is determined by addingtogether the values so represented by the displayed characters of eachpiece, whereby a variety of number games may be played.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAY 15 I972 3. 663 021 SHEET 1 or 2FIG. I FIG. 2

FIG. 4

l2 I3 I4 I5 8 9 IO M FIG. 5

INVENTOR WALT WHIPPO BY J KZZZZM ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAY 16 I972 3. 663 O21sum 2 [IF 2 FIG. 8

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D FIG. 9

INVENTOR WALT WHIPPQ BY (Shady? 43m ATTORNEY 1 METHOD OF PLAYING ABINARY CARD GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to abinary game apparatus consisting of a plurality of playing pieces, eachbeing identical with each having first and second distinguishingcharacters which are respectively assigned the numbers and 1 comprisingthe numbers in the binary system of numbering have base 2. Playingpieces are placed adjacent and among those displaying the characterrepresenting the number I, the first playing piece which is farthest tothe right has the value I, the second immediately adjacent to left ofthe first has the value 2, the third adjacent to the left of the secondhas the value 4, the fourth adjacent to the left of the third has thevalue 8, and continuing if desired to double the value of' piecesdisplaying the character representing the number one in each successiveadjacent place to the left. Playing pieces displaying the characterrepresenting 0 have the value of 0 regardless of their position in a rowof adjacent playing pieces. The total value of a row of adjacent piecesis determined by adding together the valuesso represented by thedisplayed characters of each piece. For

convenience, four adjacent playing pieces may be the maximum needed toplay a variety of games based on matching of numbers, accumulatingtotals of numbers, or arranging in sequence of numbers, several gamesutilizing this invention being described subsequently in thisspecification.

Presently known games based on numbers use the number system having base10, such as conventional playing cards. This invention utilizes thebinary number system having base 2 in games which may be played withcards, blocks, chips, or even electronic boards with positive andnegative electrons, as long as each is able to display representationsof 0 and l which comprise the numbers in the binary system. The binarysystem has become widely known and used during recent years inelectronic dataprocessing equipment. Emphasis has also been placed onthe binary system in modern educational courses of mathematics, such asthe so-called -new math." However, the binary system is not known tohave been incorporated heretofore in game apparatus or sets for purposesof entertainment and enjoyment as well as being educationaL- Thisinvention can be of considerable value as a teaching aid in helpingpersons to learn the binary number system in view of the fact it isentertaining which stimulates interest which may otherwise be lacking.

Also presently known games based on numbers use playing pieces, some orall of which are different. This invention uses laying pieces all ofwhich may be identical, and which preferably are identical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A binary game apparatus which consists of aplurality of identical playing pieces, each having a first and seconddistinguishing character which are respectively assigned the numbers 0and l comprising the numbers in the binary system of numbers having base2. Playing pieces are placed adjacent, for example four playing pieces,each displaying one of the two distinguishing characters to representeither the number I or the number 0. The value assigned to each suchdisplayed character is determined as described above. In this manner,such playing pieces which comprise this binary game apparatus maybe usedto play a variety of games based on numbers as will be described in moredetail below,even though all of the playing pieces are identical.

It is an object of this invention to provide a binary game methodutilizing a plurality of playing pieces, said playing pieces each havinga first and second distinguishing character which are respectivelyassigned the numbers 0 and l which comprise the numbers in the binarysystem.

It is an object of this invention to provide a game method utilizing aplurality of playing pieces which are all identical.

It is an object of this invention to provide a binary game methodutilizing the, binary system of numbers to combine entertainment,competitive challenge and interest with educational value.

2 Further objects of this invention will be obvious in light of thefollowing more detailed description of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of one face of acard piece in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the opposite face of the card shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a deck representing 52 of the cards shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, the edges of several of the cards being shown.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of chips which may be used with the game apparatusin accordance with this invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a betting board which may be used with the gameapparatus in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the position of players and cards atone stage of a game described hereinafter being played in accordancewith this invention. 7

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the position of players and cards ata later stage of the game referred to and illustrated in FIG. 6.

being a playing FIG. 8is a plan view of one face of a card being amodificai DESCRIPI" ION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawings in detail, a playing piece 1 consists of a card 2 having firstand second distinguishing characters consisting respectively of a whiteface 3 on one side and a black face 4 on the opposite side of the card2.

52 of such cards 2, all being identical, may be used to make up a deck 5comprising a game apparatus in accordance with this invention.

This invention utilizes the binary system which is comprised of only twonumbers, the number 0 and the number 1. White face 3 represents thenumber 0 and black face 4 represents the number I. In the binary system,the number 1 when arranged in a row of numbers has varying values. Ifthe number farthest to the right in a row of numbers is one it has thevalue of l. The number next to the left if one has the value of 2. Thenumber then next to the left if one has the value of 4. The number thennext to the left if one has the value of 8. The

number then next to the left if one has the value 16, and continuing inlike manner to double the number 1 next to the left of the immediatelypreceding number regardless of whether such immediately preceding numberis 0 or 1. The number 0 in the binary system has the value of 0regardless of where it appears in a row of numbers. The total value of arow of num bets 0 and l in the binary system is determined by addingtogether the values of each depending on their position in such row asdescribed. Thus, a binary number 0000 has a total value ofO; 0001 avalue of l; 0010 a value of 2; 0011 a value of 3; 0100 a value of4; 0101a value of5; 0110 a value of6;

Olll avalue of7; l000avalue of8; 100i avalue of9; 1010a value of 10; 101l a value of 11; 1100 a value of 12; 1101 a value of I3; 1110 a value of14; I111 a value of 15; and so on in like manner. 7

For purposes of games in accordance with this invention it is sufiicientto limit the numbers in a row to 4, from which values ranging from 0 to15 may be obtained. Four cards 2 placed in a row from left to right allhaving white face 3 displayed upward representing a row of 'four 0'swould have a value of 0. Four cards 2 in such a row having the farthestcard to the right displaying black face 4 upward with the other threedisplaying white face 3 upward would have a value of 1. If the cardsecond to the right displays black face 4 upward with the other threedisplaying white faces 3, the total value of the row of four cards wouldbe 2. If the two cards farthest to the right display their black faces 4upward with the other two cards displaying white faces 3, the totalvalue of the row of four cards would be 3. It will be obvious fromexamining the examples of binary numbers given above ranging in valuefrom 0 to 15 that cards with displayed faces representing the numbersand 1 can be arranged in like manner to represent such different values,the white faces 3 displayed upward substituting for the number 0 and theblack faces 4 displayed upward substituting for the number 1.

A variety of games can be played with a deck 5 of 52 of such cards 2,and four examples will be described below.

The first may be designated Binary I. It is a relatively simple game tointroduce players to the binary system for familiarization. Up to fourplayers can play with one deck of 52 cards 2, all cards being identical.Each player is dealt 13 cards 2. Each player arranges them in his handso six white faces 3 and seven black faces 4 are displayed toward him.Each player then shuffles the cards in his hand and makes an ante ofchips 6 or other items of some predetermined value into a central stakeor pot. Then each player aligns the cards in his hand as shuffled into adeck, and takes the top four cards from such deck laying them on theplaying surface in a row from left to right in front of him. Each playerthus has a row of four cards before him with displayed facesrepresenting a binary number. The player whose cards represent abinarynumber having the highest value wins the stake or pot. Forexample, if one players row of four cards display upward all black faces4, the total value would be 15 or the highest possible and he would winthe pot if the other players all had at least one white face 3 showingin their rows of four cards. The

laid out cards are then picked up by each player in the same order aslaid down and placed at the bottom of the deck in each ones handsrespectively. The players then can continue with a second round asdescribed for the first, and so on without having to stop and re-shufflethe cards.

When the cards have been picked up after the third round, the 13th cardbecomes the first card of the next series of four cards to be laid out.Thus, a new sequence of cards will be presented for play in each rounduntil thirteen rounds have been played. At that time the cards may bere-shuffled. There is no strategy in this game designated as Binary I,since its basic purpose is to familiarize players with the use of binarycards or other playing pieces and the binary number system.

A second game is designated Binary II, This game has somewhat thecharacteristics of roulette, and likewise requires no strategy. Abetting board 7 is used having 16 spaces numbered 0 through 15consecutively. This game may be played, by two, three or four playerswith one deck 5 of 52 cards 2. Each player is dealt 13 cards, and eachplayer sorts them to show six white faces 3 and seven black faces 4facing him. One player is designated as the dealer for the first bet.Each player places his bet on one or more numbers on the betting board7, but the amount of the bet is established by the dealer. Each playerthen shuffles the cards 2 in his hand, aligns them into a deck or stack,and cuts them. The faces of the top cards exposed and displayed upwardin each players deck laid on the playing surface are read clockwisebeginning with the dealer. The binary number represented by therespective black and white faces so exposed and read is the winningnumber. The player betting on that number wins and becomes the dealerfor the next bet. If there is more than one player betting on thewinning number, they would share as co-winners and decide by lot who isto be dealer for the next play. For each succeeding play, each playerre-shuffles his hand of cards 2, aligns them in a deck or stack, andcuts his deck of cards, thereby producing a new binary number as thewinning number. There is no need to re-deal cards. If only two playersare playing, the betting should be limited to the numbers 0 through 3since two players cannot produce a binary number higher than three.Similarly, the highest binary number which three players can produce isseven. Four players can produce binary numbers as high as 15 in thisgame designated as Binary II.

A third game is designated Binary III. This game has somewhat thecharacteristics of stud poker. Thirteen cards 2 are dealt to each of twoto four players from a deck of 52 cards. Each player arranges his handso six white faces 3 and seven blackfaces 4 are facing him with thecards held in his hand. Each player shuffles his cards, and chips 6 orother items of predetermined value are anted into a central stake orpot. Each player aligns his cards into a stack or deck, cuts his hand,and lays out the top card with its face showing as it faced the playerwhen held in his hand. Each player makes another bet and antes chips orother items into the stake or pot. Players may raise the bet, call, ordrop out of the round of play. Each remaining player again shuffles thecards in his hand, aligns them into a stack or deck, makes a cut, andlays the top card on the playing table to the left of the first cardlaid out. The players then make a third bet, ante, raise, call or drop,make another shuffle of cards in their hands, align them into a deck,cut and lay out the third card from the top of each ones deck to theleft of the second card laid out. This process is repeated a fourth timeuntil four cards are laid out in front of each player remaining in thegame. The binary numbers represented by the faces of the four cards infront of each player are determined and the player with the highestnumber takes the stake or pot. Skill and judgment is involved in thisgame based on the layouts of cards displayed which determines whether aplayer should stay in the game, raise the ante or drop out of the game.An example of reasoning a player might use is as follows. After layingout two white faces 3 representing two Os while another player shows twoblack faces 4 representing two ls, a player might find the trend goingagainst him and decide to drop or fold. However, if he stays and gets tothree white faces 3 or 0's while the other player shows three blacks,his thinking might change. His hand now has only three white faces 3remaining while having seven black faces 4. The other player's hand nowhas six white faces 3 and only four black faces 4 for possible play. Theprobability is high that the first player will cut to a black face 4 forthe leftmost digit, and the probability is slightly lower that theopposing player will cut to a white face 3 for his left-most digit.Should that happen, the first player would win with a score of 8compared to the opposing players score of 7.

A fourth game is designated Binary IV. This is an example of a moreadvanced and challenging game that may be played with playing pieces inaccordance with this invention. It is not similar to any other gamebecause it is based on the unique properties of the binary system. Itmay be played by four players per deck of 52 cards, playing as two pairsof partners. It can also be played as single, double, triple andquadruple solitaire as described later. The deck 5 of 52 cards 2 isfirst sorted so half the cards display white faces 3 upward and halfdisplay black faces 4 upward. The deck is then shufiled and put in thecenter of the table. The rotation of play is clockwise. The first playerdesignated A takes the top card from the deck and places it on theplaying table to the left of the deck as he faces it with the same faceshowing as when taken from the deck. The other players designated B, Cand D do the same. This process is repeated once more, so player A willhave two cards in front of him to the left of the deck and in line withPlayer B who is to Player A s left. Player B will likewise have twocards similarly displayed and in line with Player C to the left ofPlayer B, and so on with respect to Players C and D around the table asillustrated in FIG. 6. The deck is now removed from the center of thetable by Player A who will serve as dealer for future cards from thedeck. Players A and C sitting opposite face a common row of four cardsfrom left to right representing a binary number, but the value of thenumber to A being read from left to right is obviously different thanthe value of the number to C sitting opposite A when C reads the cardsfrom left to right. Similarly players B and D sitting opposite face asecond common row of four cards as illustrated in FIG. 7. Players A andC are partners; players B and D are partners. Player A as dealer takesthe top card off the deck. If for example it has a white face 3displayed, he pairs it with any card showing a white face 3 in the rowof four cards from left to right in front of him, by placing it whiteface 3 down or white to white. Player A will then turn that column orstack of cards upside down, so the face that was toward the table willnow be on top. He does the same with all cards or stacks of cards to theleft of the one he paired. If a card displaying a black face 4 had beentaken from the deck it would have been paired with a black face shown onone of the four cards in the left to right row in front of Player A. Ifno pair can be made, the card drawn from the deck is discarded and notput back into the deck. Player B then is dealt a card from the top ofthe deck and makes his pairing play in like manner, and

so on withPlayers C and D. The pairing and inverting move will changethe value of the binary numbers, sometimes drastically, so the choice ofcolumn or stack to be paired must be made thoughtfully when there is achoice.

When all cards in the deck have been played, the resulting binarynumbers represented by the white and black faces shown on the top cardsin the row of four stacks of cards from left to right in front of eachplayer are read as they appear to each player. The partners add theirvalues together and the highest score determines the winning team.

The highest value a four digit binary number can have is 15, representedby all black faces 4. After the initial binary numbers have been set up,each player will try to pair the remainder of the 13 cards he willreceive so as to achieve the binary number value of and preserve it. Itis important to remember what is on the bottom faces in order toproperly 7 make each pairing choice. What is on the bottom is notnecessarily the opposite of what is on the top once the pairing playbeings. It is also important to remember that what affects value theleast for one partner may affect value the most for his partner sittingopposite. If it is necessary to accept one or two cards which willresult in displaying white faces 3 in the final one or two rounds ofplay, it is best to try to keep them in inside columns or stacks inorder to achieve the best total value for both partners. A solitairevariation of Binary IV may be played as follows by one, two, three orfour players using one deck 5 of 52 cards 2. Each player has a total of13 cards 2 allotted to him in the deck. As in the partner's gamedescribed above, the deck is sorted into half white faces 3 and halfblack faces 4 facing upwardly in the deck which is then shuffled andplaced in the center of the table. Each player in turn takes the topcard and lays it in front of him building his binary number from rightto left until it is four digits long. The deck remains in the center ofthe table and each player draws from the top in turn to make his pairingand inverting plays in the same manner as described in the partnershipversion of Binary lV." At the end of the pairing and inverting plays,the player with the highest score wins. If only one player plays thissolitaire version, he either makes the highest score of l5 or he doesnot.

These foregoing detailed examples of games that may be played with thebinary game cards or other playing pieces or apparatus in accordancewith this invention illustrate the inventions utility and types of gamesthat may be played. it is obvious that many other variations andadaptions may be made.

The playing pieces may be cards 2 as used herein for purposes ofillustration. However, the playing pieces may also consist of blocks,chips and even electronic boards capable of displaying positive andnegative electrons, or electronic pulse circuits capable of displayingor otherwise indicating two separate distinguishing charactersrepresenting the numbers 0 and 1 which comprise the binary system ofnumbers.

An additional modification is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein cards 2abear the distinguishing character 0 on one face and the distinguishingcharacter l on the opposite face. The character O is substituted for thecolor white to represent the binary number 0 and the character l issubstituted for the color black to represent the binary number 1.

The particular forms of the invention described herein and illustratedin the accompanying drawings are preferred embodiments, and variouschanges in the size, shape, materials and arrangement of parts may bemade without departing from the scope of the invention or the attachedclaim.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim is: 1. A method forutilizing a game apparatus, including a plurality of identical playingcards, a first face on each of s aid cards having first distinguishingmeans associated therewith representing the numeral 0 in the binarysystem of numbers, an opposite second face on each of said cards havingsecond distinguishing means associated therewith representing thenumeral one in the binary system of numbers, utilized by sorting so halfof the cards display said first distinguishing means in one direction ina stack and the other half of said cards display said seconddistinguishing means in the same direction in said stack, shuffling saidcards, re-aligning said cards in a stack, placing said stack in thecenter of a playing table, a first player taking the top card from saidstack leaving the same face displayed upward and placing saidcard onsaid playing table to the left of said stack as faced by said firstplayer, a second, third and fourth player sitting around said tabledoing likewise in clockwise rotation, repeating the same steps anadditional time, each player beginning with the first placing a secondcard on said table to the left of the first card he placed on saidtable, removing said stack of remaining cards from said table by thefirst player, taking the top card by the first player from such stackwith its face as displayed upward, tuming said card over and laying'saidcard upon one of four cards arranged in a row from left to right infront of said first player, the face of the card so laid down having thesame distinguishing means as that displayed upward by the card on whichit is laid, turning said two cards, plus any cards thereunder over todisplay upwards the face of the bottom card formerly facing downward onthe table, similarly turning over any card or stack of cards to the leftthereof as faced by said first player to display upwards the face ofsuch card or cards formerly facing downward on the table, said firstplayer taking the next card remaining from the top of the original stackof cards and dealing to a second player to his lefi for play in similarmanner with respect to the four cards arranged in a row from left-toright in front of said second player, said second player repeating thesteps of said first player with respect to the playing of said card,said first player taking the next remaining card from the top of theoriginal stack of cards and dealing to a third player sitting oppositesaid first player and to the left of said second player, said thirdplayer repeating the steps of said first and second players with respectto playing of his card, said first player taking the next remaining cardfrom the top of the original stack of cards and dealing to a fourthplayer sitting to the right of said first player and opposite saidsecond player, said fourth'player repeating the steps of said first,second and third players with respect to the playing of his card,repeating said steps in sequence until all cards have been played, eachplayer determining the value of four stacks of cards arranged in frontof him from left to right by the distinguishing means on the facesdisplayed upward by the top card in each stack,

said first distinguishing means representing the numeral Oiin the binarysystem of numbers and said second distinguishing means representingthenumeral one in the binary system of numbers, said card or stack of cardsfarthest to the left in front of each player being assigned the value of8 if the face displayed upward represents the numeral 1, four in theposition third to the left, two in the position second to the left, andone in the position farthest to the right if in each case the card facedisplayed upward represents the numeral 1, otherwise 0 if the card facedisplayed upward in any position represents the binary numeral 0.

1. A method for utilizing a game apparatus, including a plurality ofidentical playing cards, a first face on eacH of said cards having firstdistinguishing means associated therewith representing the numeral 0 inthe binary system of numbers, an opposite second face on each of saidcards having second distinguishing means associated therewithrepresenting the numeral one in the binary system of numbers, utilizedby sorting so half of the cards display said first distinguishing meansin one direction in a stack and the other half of said cards displaysaid second distinguishing means in the same direction in said stack,shuffling said cards, re-aligning said cards in a stack, placing saidstack in the center of a playing table, a first player taking the topcard from said stack leaving the same face displayed upward and placingsaid card on said playing table to the left of said stack as faced bysaid first player, a second, third and fourth player sitting around saidtable doing likewise in clockwise rotation, repeating the same steps anadditional time, each player beginning with the first placing a secondcard on said table to the left of the first card he placed on saidtable, removing said stack of remaining cards from said table by thefirst player, taking the top card by the first player from such stackwith its face as displayed upward, turning said card over and layingsaid card upon one of four cards arranged in a row from left to right infront of said first player, the face of the card so laid down having thesame distinguishing means as that displayed upward by the card on whichit is laid, turning said two cards, plus any cards thereunder over todisplay upwards the face of the bottom card formerly facing downward onthe table, similarly turning over any card or stack of cards to the leftthereof as faced by said first player to display upwards the face ofsuch card or cards formerly facing downward on the table, said firstplayer taking the next card remaining from the top of the original stackof cards and dealing to a second player to his left for play in similarmanner with respect to the four cards arranged in a row from left toright in front of said second player, said second player repeating thesteps of said first player with respect to the playing of said card,said first player taking the next remaining card from the top of theoriginal stack of cards and dealing to a third player sitting oppositesaid first player and to the left of said second player, said thirdplayer repeating the steps of said first and second players with respectto playing of his card, said first player taking the next remaining cardfrom the top of the original stack of cards and dealing to a fourthplayer sitting to the right of said first player and opposite saidsecond player, said fourth player repeating the steps of said first,second and third players with respect to the playing of his card,repeating said steps in sequence until all cards have been played, eachplayer determining the value of four stacks of cards arranged in frontof him from left to right by the distinguishing means on the facesdisplayed upward by the top card in each stack, said firstdistinguishing means representing the numeral 0 in the binary system ofnumbers and said second distinguishing means representing the numeralone in the binary system of numbers, said card or stack of cardsfarthest to the left in front of each player being assigned the value of8 if the face displayed upward represents the numeral 1, four in theposition third to the left, two in the position second to the left, andone in the position farthest to the right if in each case the card facedisplayed upward represents the numeral 1, otherwise 0 if the card facedisplayed upward in any position represents the binary numeral 0.